Egg is good growing-up food

By CzarinaTersita S. Martinez

FNRI-DOST S & T Media Service

Did you know that egg is the most commonly consumed protein source among Filipino children from ages six months to five years? This was disclosed by the recent survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST).

Egg is an excellent complementary protein-rich food for babies after six months of age because budget-wise, it is very cheap and easy to prepare.

Fresh egg is an important source of high quality protein since it contains practically all vitamins, except ascorbic acid. Egg yolk in particular, is an excellent source of vitamin A, phosphorous, calcium, iron, retinol, and fat.

Make sure to select only fresh eggs for the baby’s complementary food. The egg shells should be intact with no traces of crack lines, clean and free from fecal matters or any dirt and discolorations. The egg shell is semi-permeable, thus, air and even bacteria may get inside the egg if damaged or is dirty.

It is best to cook eggs before serving as complementary food.

Soft-cooked egg is achieved by simmering it for five to seven minutes with enough water to cover the egg.

Immediately cool soft-cooked egg in running water to stop cooking and preventing it to become hard-cooked egg.

Poaching is also a good way to prepare eggs as complementary food for babies. Poached egg is done by cracking the egg shell and carefully dropping it in simmering water until the egg forms a stable solid mass.

It is best to serve eggs immediately after cooking.

The Nutritional Guidelines for Filipinos (NGF) developed by experts led by the FNRI recommends introducing new complementary food to babies one at a time and continuing to give the same food for three to four days. In this way we can easily know if the baby can tolerate the food well and will not have allergic or other adverse reaction. For infants less than one year old, salt should not be added because the kidneys of babies cannot handle sodium efficiently.

Remember to continue breastfeeding until two years old and beyond, while slowly introducing a variety of food and training infants to appreciate the different tastes and texture of foods.

Always allow babies to burp after each feeding to help prevent colic or abdominal discomfort caused by swallowing air. Hold the baby on the shoulder or set the baby to his/her stomach over the lap and pat the baby’s back until air comes out.

For more information on food and nutrition, contact Dr. Mario V. Capanzana, Director, Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City. E-mail: mcv@fnri.dost.gov.ph or mar_v_c@yahoo.com Telefax: 837-2934 and 827-3164, or call: 8372071 local 2296 or visit our website: http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph.

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